What is WAN and what is its coverage?
(Wide Area Network): Wide Coverage Networks
They are networks that cover a wide geographic region, often a country or a continent. This type of network contains machines that execute user programs called hosts or end systems (endsystem). The end systems are connected to a communications subnetwork. The function of the subnet is to transport messages from one host to another.
In most wide coverage networks two components can be distinguished: Transmission lines and exchange elements (Switching). Transmission lines are known as circuits, channels, or trunks. Exchange elements are specialized computers used to connect two or more transmission lines.
Local area networks are designed in such a way that they have symmetrical topologies, while wide coverage networks have irregular topologies. Another way to achieve a wide coverage network is through satellite or radio systems.
The Coverage of WAN-type networks are designed to cover an entire international region.
Networks Types
LAN | Limited. Its coverage cannot exceed 3 Km. It is a very fast network with a low rate of errors. It allows sharing resources between personal computers. | Its main disadvantage is its limited coverage since it was designed to communicate servers at a short distance.
WAN | Their coverage is so extensive that they are capable of connecting servers worldwide. | They are capable of transporting a greater amount of data. They provide partial and continuous speed. They connect devices in different places worldwide. They allow the management of subnets. | By having to travel a long distance, their speeds are lower than in LANs.
PAN | 10 meters but this coverage can be extended by the user connecting other devices. | Configuration of access to the network very easy or even automatic. The costs of installation or operation of the network are small, in some cases free. They are wireless networks. | Very limited network radio.
VPN | Its coverage is unlimited since the user can connect to it at any point. | Its connectivity is secure.Its cost is small. Easy to use. Easy installation on any computer. Security enhancements. Simplifies network topology. And another IP examples. | The necessary means must be provided to guarantee the authentication, integrity and confidentiality of all communication, otherwise the network is highly insecure.
MAN | MANs allow a diameter of around 50 km to be reached, depending on the range between network nodes on the type of cable used | High availability. High reliability.
What is MAN and what is its coverage?
A metropolitan area network (MAN, in English) is a high-speed network (broadband) that, providing coverage in a large geographical area, provides the ability to integrate multiple services through the transmission of data, voice and video. , over transmission media such as optical fiber and twisted pair (MAN LOOP), copper pair technology is positioned as the largest network in the world, an excellent alternative for the creation of metropolitan networks, due to its low latency (between 1 and 50ms), great stability and lack of radioelectric interference, MAN LOOP networks offer speeds of 10Mbps, 20Mbps, 45Mbps, 75Mbps, over copper pairs and 100Mbps, 1Gbps and 10Gbps through Fiber Optic.
MAN LOOP Networks are based on Bonding technologies, so that the links are made up of multiple copper pairs in order to offer the necessary bandwidth.
In addition, this technology guarantees SLAS’S of 99,999, thanks to the fact that the links are made up of multiple copper pairs and it is materially impossible for 4, 8 or 16 wires to fail simultaneously.
The concept of metropolitan area network represents an evolution of the concept of local area network to a broader scope, covering larger areas that in some cases are not limited to a metropolitan environment but can reach regional and even national coverage through the interconnection of different metropolitan area networks.
This type of networks is a larger version of the LAN and is usually based on technology similar to it. The main reason for distinguishing a MAN with a special category is that a standard has been adopted for it to work, which is equivalent to the IEEE standard.
Man networks are also applied in organizations, in groups of corporate offices near a city, these do not contain switching elements, which divert packets through one of several potential output lines. These networks can be public or private.
